The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is responsible for regulating commercial trucking operations. With commercial trucks weighing up to 80,000 pounds and transporting hazardous materials on our nation’s roadways every day, the FMCSA has established many rules and guidelines to keep people safe.
Unfortunately, not all drivers and trucking companies follow FMCSA regulations, and this failure to obey the rules significantly increases the chances of a truck crash occurring. If you or someone you love was hurt in an accident and you believe an FMCSA rule violation played a role in your case, you need to reach out to an experienced attorney as soon as possible.
Drafahl Law Firm has represented many clients who were injured as a result of the disregard of FMCSA rules. We can work together to make a strong claim if this happens to you. Give us a call today to learn more about how our firm will fight for you when negligent truckers disregard rules aimed at keeping you safe.
Common FMCSA Federal Trucking Regulations
The FMCSA has broad regulatory authority and, because the trucking industry is complex and the stakes are high, the agency has already implemented many thousands of regulations applied to commercial truck drivers.
Truck drivers and trucking companies are expected to obey these regulations aimed at ensuring the safety of U.S. roadways.
Here are some of the most important FMCSA regulations to be aware of:
- Driver qualifications: Drivers must undergo pre-employment screening and are subject to random drug testing. Drivers must also meet specific requirements for having a commercial driver’s license as well as earn any necessary endorsements, such as for driving with hazardous materials.
- Inspection and maintenance: Trucks must be regularly inspected and maintained in accordance with FMCSA guidelines to ensure there are no defects or problems that could increase the risk of a collision.
- Lighting and reflectors: There are rules regarding the color and placement of lighting and reflectors on commercial trucks to ensure visibility
- Hours in service: Drivers are limited to working a certain number of hours per shift and a certain number of hours over seven or eight days. These rules are designed to prevent fatigued driving and ensure that drivers can rest, including overnight.
- Record keeping: The FMCSA requires some records to be kept for several years. These records can include dispatch and trip records, truck ownership records, truck maintenance schedules, and the DOT number and proof of insurance
- Insurance requirements: Trucking companies must meet minimum insurance coverage requirements to ensure they have funds available to compensate victims if they are found liable for losses
These are just some of the many regulations that commercial drivers and their employers must comply with.
What Happens if an FMCSA Regulation is Violated?
Truck drivers and trucking companies should follow FMCSA regulations to the letter, as failure to do so could result in serious consequences, including fines and other penalties.
If a regulatory violation occurs, this also creates a presumption of negligence, which means that the truck crash victims don’t have to separately prove the trucker was unreasonably careless — the victim only must prove that the violation of the safety rule was the direct cause of the crash and resulting harm.
Getting Help from an Attorney Who Knows the FMCSA Federal Trucking Regulations
Drafahl Law Firm can provide the help and support you need to understand when FMCSA regulations were violated in the time leading up to your truck crash, and to understand what that means for your case.
Give us a call today to schedule your free consultation with a firm that knows the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations inside and out and that can put that knowledge to work on your claim.